Belarusian Potato Breakthrough: High-Starch Variety ‘Mastak’ and 1.2M In-Vitro Tubers Yearly

The Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Potato Growing (Samokhvalovichi) has unveiled a major leap in potato breeding and propagation, introducing the new cultivar ‘Mastak’ with over 22% starch content and robust resistance to the potato Y-virus (PVYntn). This development addresses both food-processing demands and phytosanitary challenges, positioning the center as a regional leader in high-quality seed production. Alongside genetic improvement, its in-vitro laboratory now produces 1.2 million microtubers annually, achieving an impressive 98.4% virus-exclusion rate—a benchmark for clean planting material in Eastern Europe.

To accelerate multiplication, the center has transitioned to aeroponic systems, which boost the propagation rate of disease-free mini-tubers by 2.5 times compared to conventional methods. This technological shift not only shortens the breeding cycle but also enhances the scalability of elite stocks for farmers. By combining advanced pathology testing with high-throughput clonal micropropagation, the Samokhvalovichi institute is setting new standards for seed potato quality, ensuring higher yields and better processing traits for the domestic and export markets.